Alice, mayor, happy, and friends are objective complements. They are completing the meaning of the verb, and they either describe or rename the direct object.

Sentence Diagramming

Sentence diagrams are pictures of sentences. These pictures show us the structure of the sentence.

To diagram an objective complement (OC), extend the horizontal line that holds the subject, verb, and direct object. Draw a slanted line between the direct object and the OC.

We named our daughter Alice.

It's Your Turn

Directions

Identify each word in the following sentence. If you've already learned how to diagram sentences, you should also diagram them. You'll find the answers just below this section.

1. I painted my room red.

2. They elected my uncle mayor.

3. His family calls him Dave.

4. My dad made the chili very spicy.

5. This music makes me happy!

Answers

1.

I painted my room red.

I = pronoun & subject

painted = transitive active verb

my = possessive pronoun/adjective

room = noun & direct object

red = adjective & OC

2.

They elected my uncle mayor.

They = pronoun & subject

elected = transitive active verb

my = possessive pronoun/adjective

uncle = noun & direct object

mayor = noun & OC

3.

His family calls him Dave.

family = noun & subject

His = possessive pronoun/adjective

calls = transitive active verb

him = pronoun & direct object

Dave = noun & OC

4.

My dad made the chili very spicy!

dad = noun & subject

My = possessive pronoun/adjective

made = transitive active verb

chili = noun & direct object

the = adjective

spicy = adjective & OC

very = adverb

5.

This music makes me happy!

music = pronoun & subject

This = adjective

makes = transitive active verb

me = pronoun & direct object

happy = adjective & OC

Hello! I'm Elizabeth O'Brien, and my goal is to get you jazzed about grammar.

This was taken right after Alice was born.

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